A week after starting to receive writing lessons from Sione.
Raven began to acquire the continental language faster than anyone.
Though his handwriting was at an ordinary child’s level since he was not accustomed to using a quill, he boasted an incredible speed in reading and understanding the characters.
Even Sione, who had been in charge of soldiers’ education for several years during his military days, was stunned.
“You’ve learned to write before, haven’t you? The progress is too fast.”
“……No. It’s my first time.”
Raven, responding in a rigid tone, turned his gaze back to the book.
Despite spending one or two hours together every day for lessons, the awkwardness between them remained the same as in the beginning.
‘Fortunately, it seems I have become a little closer to Miss Bella….’
Among the people in Rose Palace, Raven and Bella seemed to have become quite familiar, perhaps because they were close in age.
Sometimes they had lessons together, and unlike his usual self, who only spoke when necessary, Raven would have small conversations with Bella.
Considering he still didn’t even make eye contact with the maids and soldiers, it was a tremendous development.
‘When Miss Bella asked me to teach this child to write, I was surprised.’
What surprised her was not the content of the request but the facial expression Bella had shown at that time.
The Bella that Sione knew was often cynical and composed.
While it was true she was so cute that she wouldn’t mind putting her eyes on her, objectively, she was different from ordinary children her age.
Sometimes she would look so mature that it was worrying she was growing up too fast, but at that time, it was a completely different look.
“Sione! I have a request. Will you do it?”
“Of course. Tell me anything.”
“Teach Raven to write. He wants to read books.”
At first, she didn’t understand who she was talking about due to the unfamiliar name and lisp, but she soon realized it was the Benian boy.
Wondering if teaching Raven to write was the right action, she hesitated for a moment, but Sione had no choice but to nod.
Bella’s twinkling and pure eyes were so irresistible that she couldn’t refuse.
‘It was the first time I saw such a face.’
Perhaps it was because she seemed so mature for her age.
The adorable and lovable child she served, despite her high position as a princess, was always cautious in everything.
She was confident when giving necessary orders but always looked around carefully and held back when making a request, sometimes even sacrificing her own desires for others.
At an age when it was natural to cry and throw tantrums when things didn’t go her way, she felt her heart ache every time she noticed the child biting her small lips and enduring.
But Bella was different when asking for something for Raven.
The opportunity to let the boy learn to write couldn’t have made her look happier.
Lost in thought, watching Raven studying, Sione was startled by a soft knock on the door.
“Sione, can I come in too?”
At the sound of the gentle and adorable voice, Sione quickly got up and headed for the door.
In front of the large and heavy door, which was too much for a child to open, stood Bella with her hair tied neatly with a blue ribbon, holding a book.
“Oh my, Miss Bella. You brought that book all by yourself? Give it to me. I’ll carry it.”
“I’m strong. It’s okay.”
“But what brings you here? It’s not time for magic lessons yet…….”
“Uh, I need to preview here!”
The little girl, hugging a book almost as thick as her body, looked cute and lovable.
Waddling into the room like a baby duck, Bella cleared her throat unnecessarily and greeted Raven.
“Hi. Are you studying well?”
“……Yes.”
“I brought snacks for you. Eat them!”
Sione quietly watched Bella take out snacks and candies from the small bag she was carrying and place them in Raven’s palm.
Raven stared at the snacks piling up and falling to the floor, his eyes wide in disbelief, but Bella seemed unconcerned.
“Sweet things are good for the brain. Right, Sione?”
“Yes, that’s right. Eating sweets helps you concentrate. Shall we take a break?”
Realizing that Bella had suddenly intruded not for the sake of previewing but to have teatime, Sione called a maid to prepare tea.
Just a year ago, this place had been utterly silent, and now they were educating two children on both sides.
For Sione, the feeling was quite peculiar, as if she was dreaming.
‘Has she become happier because she has a friend her age for the first time? It’s a relief, though….’
She alternately looked at Bella, who was recommending a new snack, and Raven, who was silently sipping tea.
In fact, Sione’s expression as she watched them wasn’t bright, and that was due to Raven’s unique situation.
‘Is it okay to let these two children be friends like this?’
Only after the arrival of her master, Elga, would the exact situation be known, but under the current circumstances, Raven might as well have existed for Bella’s sake.
Wasn’t the reason the boy had come here to resolve Bella’s chronic magic depletion?
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
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Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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